Lemosho Route

Lemosho Route

Lemosho Route Description

The Lemosho route is the longest route to Uhuru Peak, but is an excellent choice for those wanting to take a more scenic trek to the summit. As the longest route it offers excellent acclimatisation and has a great success rate. Beginning from the northern side of the mountain it takes you gradually though beautiful forests and across moorlands, along the Shira plateau until eventually it meets with the more frequently used Machame route. This route has some spectacular views of the icefields – something that the budding photographers amongst you will certainly enjoy! After reaching the summit of Uhuru Peak you will then descend the Lemosho route via the Mweka route.

For a comfortable trek we suggest the 8 day itinerary, though those that are fit will easily complete the trek in 7 days.

Accommodation is in tents that will be provided for you, along with a sleeping mat and the other camping items. All you need to bring is yourself, your sleeping bag and your personal equipment! Our predeparture information gives you a list of the recommended items to bring.

Itinerary of Lemosho Route

Day 3 – The trail steepens and crosses several streams in the giant heather zone. TheShira Ridge is crossed (3600m) to the Shira Day 1 – Plateau, camp by stream (3500m, 5h)

Day 4 – A gentle walk across the plateau leads to Shira Hut camp on moorland meadows bya stream (3840m, 1h30min.). A variety of walks are available on the Plateau making this an excellent acclimatisation day.

Day 5 – A rocky path leads east up towards the Lava Tower. Shortly beyond this, you descend to Barranco campsite (3950m, 4-5h.) (Day 5 & 6 combine if no acclimatisation day is required)

Day 6 – Scramble easily to the top of the Great Barranco and then a traverse over screes and ridges to the Karanga Valley campsite (3h, 4000m.), beneath the icefalls of the Southern Glaciers.

Day 7 – The trail ascends a ridge to a campsite by the Barafu Hut, an airy location with little vegetation (3h, 4600m.),

Day 8 – Start just after midnight for the ascent of the screes leading to Stella Point (6h, 5725m) From here a further 40minute walk leads to Uhuru Peak. Descend to the Barafu Hut for a rest and brunch before continuing down to camp at Mweka Hut at 3100m (11-14hrs total walking time)

Day 9 – A 3-4 hour descent through beautiful forest in lemosho route, brings you to the Park Gate for hot lunch. Drive back to the Springlands Hotel (B&B).

Day 10 – Breakfast. Depart the hotel

Prices

Prices of Lemosho Route

COST – 7 Day Lemosho Trek from $2041 per personAdditional day for acclimatisation (if required) $262 ppVehicle cost $120 per group

Single surcharge (if required) $76

Airport transfers can be arranged from Kilimanjaro airport for $20 per person, each way

Groups of 6 or more – Discount of $30 per person. Low season (April – 13 June & Nov) – Discount of $50 per person.

To see what is included/not included in the cost and for Tipping guidelines please see check our PDF

About Zara

ZARA, one of the top three operators in Northern Tanzania. Begun in 1986 by Zainab Ansell as an international travel agency and in 1987 was appointed as an IATA agency. Safari trips, Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru climbs commenced in 1987.

Many years of experience in running these trips have now been accumulated and in some years Zara has been the top provider. Zara is mentioned in many publications eg “Kilimanjaro & Mount Kenya” by Cameron M Burns, also on several websites that also provide references to Zara services.

We now have a large fleet of 4x4WD vehicles and over 80 guides working with us. 28 mountain guides are registered to Zara. All of our drivers and guides are experienced and speak English. In addition Zara now own and run two hotels – Springlands hotel in Moshi and the Highview hotel in Ngorongoro conservation area along with the safari Wildcamps in Ikoma, Serengeti and Ngorongoro. This allows Zara to be in complete control of your trek or safari from start to finish, ensuring that you receive the best possible service throughout. Check on Trip Advisor for reviews of Zara.

LISTED BELOW ARE SOME OF THE MANY THINGS THAT ZARA HAVE DONE TO IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS FOR BOTH ZARA STAFF AND THE LOCAL PEOPLE:

Mount Kilimanjaro porters society (MKPS)

ZARA tours are proud of the work they do in using tourism to create better livelihoods for their employees, partners and communities. As such Director, Zainab Ansell, set up the Mount Kilimanjaro porters society (MKPS) in 2004 with the purpose of improving living and working condition for the porters (and their families) who climb Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Meru. This includes:

Assisting porters to open bank accounts. Currently almost 90% of the members of MKPS have their own bank account and card. Wages are paid directly in to their account and this is helping them handle more safely and manage more effectively their money. This has helped porters to pursue their own businesses, afford to build their own houses, pay their bills and take care of their families as well as cover their basic needs of food, shelter, clothes and education.

Helping provide employment opportunities to porters during the low season, for example environmental initiatives have led to several tree planting projects around Moshi and Karatu.

Establishing tipping sheets for fairness and transparency to ensure that porters get their tips as agreed by clients. This sheet is signed by clients when the tip is paid and signed by porters when they receive their tips and is monitored by the office.

MKPS through their sponsors Zara Tanzania adventures and colleagues pay higher wage rates than that which has been proposed by KINAPA and TANAPA.·

Where required, members are loaned (free of charge) hiking equipment such as sleeping bags, tents, raincoats, waterproof trouser, jackets socks, gloves and shoes for the duration of their trek. The MKPS members have membership ID cards which help identify them and support their equipment requirements. It also helps with monitoring the whereabouts of the equipment at any one time.

Ensuring that porters carry loads that respond to set standards of a maximum of 20kg per person, MKPS members have their luggage weighed at the base hotel. This means that luggage that is over this maximum may be left behind at the hotel. Therefore, when the porters from the ZARA organised trips arrive at the Kilimanjaro National Park gate to have the luggage weight double-checked before the climb, they will not be over the weight limit.

MKPS porters and other staff are given 3 meals a day whilst on trek and each MKPS member has been given a bicycle.